Entry

The chieftain Li Shao-ying and others, who had been sent by Jiao-zhi, took leave of the Court. Clothing of patterned fine silks and paper money were conferred upon them. Imperial orders were conferred for the instruction of the chieftain Li Li as follows: "Last year in the tenth month (Oct/Nov 1427), the military headquarters sent on your letter and the memorial. The memorial requested that a descendant of the Chen family be enthroned. I respect and manifest the wishes of Heaven and Earth and, in accordance with the original wishes of the Tai-zong Emperor, I granted your request. I especially sent Li Qi, a vice minister in the Ministry of Rites to take a proclamation of general amnesty for Jiao-zhi and to require you and the chieftains and elders of the country to advise of the facts in respect of the legitimate male descendants of the Chen family. You should have respectfully awaited the Court's orders, but you harboured guile and deceit, hurriedly discussed peace with Wang Tong and induced him to withdraw the government troops. You then occupied the city. This was presumptuous and improper in the extreme. Now, although you have memorialized acknowledging your crimes, the civil and military ministers have jointly memorialized that your crimes cannot be pardoned. As my orders of grace have already been promulgated, I am leniently pardoning you. However, the appointment of a successor is a major matter. You must accord with the wishes of the people of the country and not just act on the basis of your own interests. When the orders arrive, you together with the chieftains and elders are to immediately draw up details of the facts relating to the legitimate male descendants of the former Chen kings of Annam and memorialize these. On this basis, the proclamation of enfeoffment will be promulgated. You shall also send back to the capital all the people and all of the weapons which you have detained. In this way, the region will long remain at peace. The joint memorial presented by the ministers has been given to Li Shao-ying to show you. You should note its contents!"